Science of drinking cold water

The National Academies of  Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommend that men 19 years and older drink 3.7 litres of water per day (15.5 cups) and women 19 and older consume 2.7 litres per day (11.5 cups).

Watson (2021) is of the view that drinking cold water does affect the body in ways you may not anticipate or want.

Watson (2021) further asserts that in traditional Chinese medicine, drinking cold water with hot food is believed to create an imbalance in the body’s internal environment.

But Felman (2019) had a different view. He notes: “In Western medicine, there is little scientific evidence to suggest that cold water is bad for the body or digestion.

Cold water: Myths demystified

In demystifying the assertion that some people believe drinking cold water is a bad habit that can harm their long-term health, Watson (2021) notes:

“This belief is based on the idea that drinking cold water contracts the stomach, making it harder to digest food after a meal.

“Additionally, some people also believe that the body has to work harder to maintain its internal temperature of 98.6°F (37°C) if you’re drinking water that’s near the temperature of ice, or less than 36°F (4°C)”.

But is there any truth to these ideas?

Science

Drinking cold water does have some benefits. Lafata et al. (2012) state: “Drinking cold water during exercise can help keep your body from overheating and make your workout session more successful.

This is probably because drinking cold water makes it easier for your body to maintain a lower core temperature”.
Riera et al. (2014) investigated the effects of different drinks on the cycling performance of 12 trained male athletes in a tropical climate.

The researchers reported that drinking an ice-slush beverage was better for performance than drinking water at a neutral temperature.

However, they also concluded that the athletes achieved the best performance when consuming an ice-slush beverage that also had a menthol aroma.

Drinking cold water, weight loss

Girona et al. (2014) study is of the view that drinking cold water can help promote weight loss.

Though Brazier (2018) also suggests that drinking more water can help the body burn slightly more calories, there appears to be little difference between drinking cold and room temperature water.

McCaffrey (2016) study notes: “Drinking plain water, no matter the temperature, has been associated with lower calorie intake throughout the day”.

Additionally, McCaffrey, (2016) states that drinking water as an alternative to sugary beverages is good for your digestion and maintaining a moderate weight, even if the water you drink is on the colder side.

Warm or hot water better than cold water?

Watson, (2021) notes that drinking warm water can:

i. help digestion

ii. aid in circulation

iii. assist the body in getting rid of toxins faster.

While this isn’t a “risk,” per se, it’s something to keep in mind as you decide how you’d like to get water in your body. Szlyk et al., (1990) is of the view that drinking warm or hot water has been found to make you less thirsty.

Additionally, this can be dangerous on days when your body is trying to keep cool by losing water through sweat.

Hosseinlou et al. (2013) suggest that the optimal water temperature for rehydration following exercise may be 16°C, which is around the same temperature as cool tap water. The researchers reported that participants who consumed water at this temperature drank more water voluntarily and sweated less than when they drank water at other temperatures.

A previous study by Khamnei et al., (2011), concluded that drinking cold water at a temperature of 5°C “did not improve voluntary drinking and hydration status” in six Taekwondo athletes. Watson, (2021) asserts:

“If you opt to drink warm water, be aware that you may not feel thirsty as often as you should”.

Takeaway

There is little scientific evidence to suggest that drinking cold water is bad for people. In fact, drinking colder water may improve exercise performance and be better for rehydration when exercising, especially in hotter environments.

However, drinking cold water may worsen symptoms in people with achalasia, which affects the food pipe. Drinking ice-cold water can also cause headaches in some people, particularly those who live with migraine.

People should make sure they get enough water each day, regardless of its temperature.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine advise that females need to consume around 2.7 litres of water a day to meet their hydration needs and males around 3.7 litres.

This intake can come from both foods and beverages.

Some people may want to avoid drinking cold water due to one reason or the other. Drinking cold water while you have a cold or flu, or if you have any chronic condition that results in slower digestion, is probably not a great idea.

But, while some cultures regard drinking cold water as a significant health risk for everyone, there isn’t a lot of research to support that claim.

There are plenty of benefits to drinking warm water, though. As for the benefits of drinking cold water, they turn out to be the same benefits of drinking regular room-temperature water: keeping you hydrated and feeling refreshed.